Two-element hand tool



May 15, 1962 F. DAHL TWO-ELEMENT HAND TOOL Filed June 1, 1960 INVENTOR.

FRANK L.DAHL

United States Patent C 3,034,550 TWO-ELEMENT HAND TOOL Frank L. Dahl,5248 W. 119th Place, Inglewood, Calif. Filed June 1, 1960, Ser. No.33,272 2 Claims. (Cl. 145-64) The present invention consists of animproved twoelement hand tool which is controllably selectively movableinto either of two locked positions for effectively positioning eitherof the hand tool elements in operative position for use. In onepreferred form, the invention may include a handle provided with alongitudinal bore therethrough and having slidably mounted therein alongitudinal shaft provided with a different tool element means at eachend, and with the shaft being movable between a first position, whereinone of said tool elements extends from one end of said handle in anoperative position, and a second position, wherein the other one of saidtool elements extends from the other end of said handle in an operativeposition, with said shaft being controllably lockable in either saidfirst or second position. The tool elements or tool element meanscarried at each end of the longitudinal shaft are usually different andmay comprise, for example (and not to be construed in a limiting sense),a conventional screwdriver at one end and a Phillips screwdriver at theother end, or may comprise socket wrench fittings of various sizes, ifdesired, or may comprise merely a driver element at each end adapted toengage various types and/ or sizes of removable interchangeable toolelements. This makes it possible for a user of the device to, in eflect,have two tools in one, with either tool element being adapted to beplaced in operative position With very little effort on the part of theuser.

The present invention includes novel engaging means for controllablylocking the longitudinal shaft in either extreme position whereby torespectively position either tool element end thereof in operativeextended relationship with respect to the handle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel two-elementhand tool of the character referred to above, which is of extremelysimple, cheap, foolproof construction such as to be conducive towidespread use thereof.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which followshereinafter and will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after acareful study thereof.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention,several exemplary embodiments are illustrated in thehereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying single drawing sheetand are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention with one end of the longitudinal shaft shown inextended relationship with respect to the handle means whereby to placeone of the two different tool element means carried by the longitudinalshaft in operative position for use and whereby to place the other toolelement means carried by the other end of the longitudinal shaft innon-use position within a rear portion of a bore extending through thehandle means.

FIG. 2 is a larger-scale view comprising a central longitudinal verticalsectional view of the handle means of 3,034,550 Patented May 15, 1962lCC FIG. 1 and a fragmentary elevational view of the longitudinal shaftand two different tool element means of FIG. 1. It should be noted thata central portion of the longitudinal shaft is broken away and removedfor drawing space conservation reasons, in this view.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken in the direction of the arrows 33 ofFIG. 2 and comprises a section of the handle means, the longitudinalshaft, and transverse pin means comprising a portion of the engagingmeans cooperating with the other portion of the engaging means, shown inelevation in FIG. 3, whereby to lock the longitudinal shaft in theposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the left tool element means inextended operative position and with the right tool element means inretracted non-use position Within the handle means.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a fragment of the right endportion of FIG. 2, but shows a slight modification wherein opposite endsof the handle means have a larger entry portion into the central bore toreceive a larger tool element, which is shown in FIG. 4 as comprising asocket head wrench, although any other type of tool element may beemployed, either fixedly carried by the shaft or remova'bly carriedthereby.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, reduced-size view illustrating a further slightmodification wherein each end of the longitudinal shaft carries toolelement means comprising a tool member driver.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 for exemplary purposes, one illustrativeembodiment of the invention takes a typical exemplary form wherein itcomprises the handle means indicated generally at 10, which is shown asbeing of substantially longitudinal cylindrical configuration made ofmolded plastic material, although not specifically so limited. Thehandle means 10 is provided with a longitudinal bore therethrough which,in the specific example illustrated, takes the form of a bore indicatedgenerally at 11 including a central portion 11C and larger end entryportions 1113 which, in the form shown in FIGS. 1-3, are outwardlydivergingly flared, although the invention is not so limited. Thecentral bore portion 11C is provided with retaining means 12 at each endthereof which, in the example illustrated comprise two metallic insertmembers, although the invention is not specifically so limited. Each ofthe retaining means 12 has a circular through-aperture 13 slightlylarger than the circular cross-sectional size of the longitudinal shaft14 which is slidably mounted in the longitudinal bore 11 for slidablemovement through the aligned holes 13 in the retaining means 12 betweentwo extreme positions whereby to place either of the tool element means15 carried by opposite ends of the longitudinal shaft 14 in extended,locked, and operative position. In the form shown in FIGS. l3, it shouldbe noted that the left tool element means 15, which for illustrativepurposes only is shown as comprising a. Phillips type of screwdriver, isin the extended, locked, and operative position. However, it should beunderstood that by merely unlocking the engaging means, which will bedescribed hereinafter, and by slidably moving the shaft 14 toward theright until it is in a rightwardly extending position substantiallysimilar to the leftwardly extended position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, andby then locking the engaging means, which will be described hereinafter,the right tool element means 15 may be similarly placed in extended,

locked, and operative position with respect to the handle means 1% Inthe example illustrated, said right tool element means 15 is shown ascomprising a conventional screwdriver, although the invention is notspecifically so limited.

The engaging means, generally referred to above, for controllablyengaging and locking the shaft 14 in either of the two extreme positionsfor placing in operative condition either the left or the right toolelement means 15, comprises the two retaining means or insert members12, each of which is provided with a transverse receiving recess means16 on the inner face thereof, which faces the central portion 11C of thebore and opens thereinto for purposes which will be described in detailhereinafter.

The engaging means generally referred to above, also includes twolongitudinally spaced transverse pins 17 carried transversely adjacentthe two tool element means 15, and abuttingly engageable and receivinglyinsertably cooperable with the corresponding ones of the two transversereceiving recess means 16, as best shown at the right end of the centralbore portion 11C in FIG. 2 and as shown enlarged in FIG. 3, whereby thetransverse engaging pin 17 is effectively locked within correspondingtransverse receiving recess means 16 so as to rotatively immobilize theshaft end 14 withthe left tool element means 15 extending leftwardlyfrom the left end of the handle means into an operative use position.

It should be noted that each of the transverse pins 17 may be referredto as a first engaging means and each of the corresponding twotransverse receiving recess means 16 may be referred to as a secondengaging means, cooperable together for locking engagement whereby tohold the longitudinal shaft 14 in either of two extreme positions, whichwill place either the left or right tool element means in extendedoperative use position,

where it is maintained by a coil compression spring 18 r mounted on thecentral portion of the shaft 15 and abutting the transverse pin 17 whichis engaged in the transverse receiving recess means 16, with theopposite end of the spring 18 abutting the other retaining means 12.

It should be noted that each of the retaining means 12 is provided, in arotatively displaced position with respect to its transverse receivingrecess means 16, with a through slot means 19 of a size such as to allowthe corresponding transverse pin 17 to pass therethrough when alignedtherewith so as to controllably reverse the longitudinal position of theshaft 14 for extending the other tool element means 15 into operativeuse position. This is accomplished after the other or left transversepin 17 passes through the other or left through slot 19, after which theshaft 14 is rotated until said left transverse pin means 7 is aligned'with the left transverse receiving recess means 16, after which theshaft 14 is allowed to move slightly to the left under the action of thebiasing spring 18 so as to firmly lock the left transverse pin means 17in the left transverse receiving recess means 16 in a manner identicalto the locking of the right transverse pin means 17 in the righttransverse receiving recess means 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thiswill effectively lock the shaft 14 in an extreme rightwardly extendedposition with the right tool element means 15 locked in extendedoperative use position.

in the specific form shown, the rotative displacement of the shaft 14required for moving either of the transverse pins 17 from alignment withthe corresponding through slot 19 into alignment with the correspondingtransverse receiving recess means 16 is 90 degrees. However, any otherdesired rotative displacement between each of the through slots 19 andeach of the transverse receiving recess means 16 may be employed withinthe basic spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to the right portion of FIG. 2, andsimilar parts are indicated by similar reference numerals, primed,however. In this modification, each of the entry portions 11E of thecentral bore 11' is of substantially cylindrical configuration ratherthan conical as shown in the first form of the invention so as to beeficctively adapted to receive therein a socket head wrench element 15comprising the tool element means. The left tool element means (notshown in this view) may comprise another socket head Wrench type of toolelement of a different size or shape or may comprise a screwdriver typeof tool element or any other desired type of tool element means, eitherfixed with respect to the shaft 14 or movably engageable therewith.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view very similar to a part of FIG. 4, andcorresponding elements are indicated by similar reference numerals,doubly primed, however. In this modification, either or both ends of theshaft 14 may comprise a tool element means 15", which takes the form ofa driver adapted for removable driving cocperation with respect to anyof various types and/ or sizes of auxiliary tool members engageabletherewith.

While the retaining means have been shown as comprising metal inserts,they may be integrally formed in the body of the handle means It incertain forms of the invention. Furthermore, it should he noted that,for constructional purposes, the handle may be of a type formed in twosections subsequently joined together for final assembly. Various otherstructural and/or constructional variations are within the basic spiritand scope of the present invention and are intended to be includedwithin the scope hereof.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific descriptionthereof set forth in this application are for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention and are not to be construed aslimiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specificstructure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore.Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantiallyequivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventiveconcept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. An improved hand tool controllably selectively operable forpositioning in either of two oppositely directed extended positions,comprising: longitudinal handle means provided with a longitudinal boretherethrough; a longitudinal shaft provided with end-mounted toolelement means, said longitudinal shaft being provided inwardly of eachend thereof with first engaging means comprising engaging pin meanstransversely projecting on opposite sides of said shaft; said boreincluding a centrally positioned longitudinal intermediate portionshorter than said longitudinal handle and concentrically positionedtherein and having adjacent each end thereof and completely within saidbore second engaging means including a shaftsupporting slidable bearingmeans for slidably receiving the shaft and an engaging recess meansfacing said intermediate central portion and opening thereinto andextending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal bore and on eachside thereof to an extent substantially equal to the transverseextension of the corresponding one of said engaging transverse pin meansand adapted to controllably and non-rotatably receive and positionallylock the corresponding one of said engaging transverse pin means thereinin a position completely within said handle when the opposite end oftheshaft extends outwardly from the opposite end of the handle; said secondengaging means immediately around said shaft-supporting slidable bearingmeans and in a position rotatively displaced from said engaging recessmeans being provided with a through-slotted portion having a dimensionin a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal ais of theshaft greater than the transverse dimension of each of said transverseengaging pin means whereby to allow the corresponding one of said pinmeans to be rotated into a position for passing therethrough outwardlyinto a position extending outwardly from the same end of the handlemeans; and centrally intermediately positioned biasing 5 6 coilcompression spring means positioned around a central 2. A tool of thecharacter defined in claim I, wherein illtfifmediate Portion of saidShaft entirely Within Said the tool element means comprisestorque-applying means. centrally positioned longitudinal intermediateportion of said bore between the second engaging means at each end RefCited in the fil f this patent thereof for effective engagement betweenone of said 5 transverse engaging pin means and the opposed second en-UNITED STATES PATENTS gaging means whereby to bias said transverseengaging pin 2 629,415 Baker Feb 4 1953 means into locked relationshipwith respect to the other 632,489 Johnson Man 1953 second engagingmeans, with the shaft extending outwardly from the end of the handlemeans remote therefrom. 10 273O145 Brown 1956

